United States

Department of

Agriculture

Agricultural 

Marketing

Service

Fruit and

Vegetable

Division

Fresh

Products

Branch

United States Standards

for Grades of

Southern Peas for

Processing

Effective June 1, 1965

(Reprinted - January 1997)
 Packing of the product in conformity with the requirements of these standards shall not excuse failure to comply with 1

the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or with applicable State laws and regulations.

1

United States Standards for Grades of Southern Peas for Processing 1

General

51.3585 Application. 

51.3586 Method of inspection. 

Grades 

51.3587 U.S. No. 1. 

51.3588 U.S. No. 2.

Off Grade 

51.3589 Off grade. 

Tolerances 

51.3590 Tolerances. 

Definitions 

51.3591 Extraneous material. 

51.3592 Fairly well matured. 

51.3593 Excessively mature. 

51.3594 Fairly fresh. 

51.3595 Decay. 

51.3596 Recoverable seeds. 

51.3597 Similar varietal characteristics. 

51.3598 Insects. 

51.3599 Damage. 

51.3600 Tinge of green. 

51.3601 Serious defects.

General 

§51.3585 Application. 

These standards are intended to apply only to the seed pods of plants of the species Vigna

sinensis, generally known as "southern peas" or "field peas" which are to be used for processing

into frozen or canned products. The standards will serve as a basis for grading the quality of loads

of peas delivered to processing plants, and thus establish a basis for a more equitable pricing

structure. Pricing, for example, could be based upon either of the following formulas: 

(a) A stated price per pound gross weight for loads meeting U.S. No. 1 grade, another price for

loads meeting U.S. No. 2 grade, etc. 

(b) A stated price per pound for the recoverable seeds in loads grading U.S. No. 1, another price

for seeds in loads grading U.S. No. 2, etc. 

Under this system the recoverable percentage of seeds would be determined from the inspection

sample by use of a sample sheller.
2

§51.3586 Method of inspection. 

In determining the grade of a load of peas, a composite sample should be obtained by drawing

small amounts from numerous locations in the load. The sample should be thoroughly mixed, and

an even-weighted portion of it inspected and analyzed for quality. Percentages of pod defects shall

be calculated on the basis of the weight of the sample analyzed. Percentages of defective peas

shall be calculated on the basis of the weight of recoverable peas shelled out of the sample. 

Grades 

§51.3587 U.S. No. 1. 

"U.S. No. 1" consists of southern peas which are free from extraneous material. The pods are at

least fairly well matured but not excessively mature, and are fairly fresh and free from decay. The

seeds are of similar varietal characteristics, free from sting scars, insects, insect eggs and decay,

and free from damage caused by discoloration, splits, cracked skins or other means. Fifty percent

or more, by weight, of the seeds of light colored seeded varieties in this grade have at least a tinge

of green (see §51.3590). 

§51.3588 U.S. No. 2. 

"U.S. No. 2" consists of southern peas which are free from extraneous material. The pods are at

least fairly well matured and free from decay. The seeds are of similar varietal characteristics, free

from sting scars, insects, insect eggs and decay, and free from damage caused by discoloration,

splits, cracked skins or other means (see §51.3590). 

Off Grade 

§51.3589 Off grade. 

"Off grade" consists of lots of southern peas which fail to meet the requirements of either of the

foregoing grades. 

Tolerances 

§51.3590 Tolerances. 

In order to allow for variations incident to proper harvesting and handling, the following

tolerances, by weight, are provided in each of the grades as specified: 

Tolerances for Grade Defects

Grade Extraneous External (pod) defects Internal (seed) defects Seed color

material

U.S. No. 1 2 percent 5 percent not fairly well 5 percent for seeds of dissimilar No tolerance to

matured. variety. reduce the

5 percent excessively 5 percent total for other defects required 50

mature. including therein not more than percent of seeds

1 percent decay. 2 percent for serious defects, but not of light colored

more than one-half of the latter seeded varieties

amount or having a tinge

1 percent for decay. No tolerance for of green.

seeds containing insects or insect

eggs.
3

U.S. No. 2 5 percent 25 percent not fairly

well matured. requirements.

3 percent decay. 8 percent total for other defects,

5 percent for seeds of dissimilar No

variety.

including therein not more than 

4 percent for serious defects, but not

more than one-half of the latter

amount or 

2 percent for decay or seeds

containing insect eggs. No tolerance

for seeds containing insects.

Definitions 

§51.3591 Extraneous material. 

"Extraneous material" means all substances other than southern peas in pods and loose peas.

Included are pieces of vine, leaves, dirt, sticks, stones and other foreign material. 

§51.3592 Fairly well matured. 

"Fairly well matured" means that the pea has reached the stage of development at which the seeds

generally separate cleanly from the lining of the pods as they are shelled. 

§51.3593 Excessively mature. 

"Excessively mature" means that the pea has reached an advanced stage of maturity at which the

pod is dry or almost dry and the seeds are shrunken and doughy to hard in texture. 

§51.3594 Fairly fresh. 

"Fairly fresh" means that the lot as a whole is not materially heated and the pods are not becoming

mushy. 

§51.3595 Decay. 

"Decay" means that the pod or the seed is affected by decomposition or rot. 

§51.3596 Recoverable seeds. 

"Recoverable seeds" means the seeds free from adhering pod tissue which are shelled out of the

sample by the customary sample shelling machine method. 

§51.3597 Similar varietal characteristics. 

"Similar varietal characteristics" means that the seeds in any lot of peas are of one variety, or are

of two or more varieties having seeds of similar size and color. 

§51.3598 Insects. 

(a) "Insects" means insects or insect larvae inside the seed. 

(b) "Sting scars" means scars on the seed caused by insect punctures of the seed coat. 

(c) "Insect eggs" means eggs embedded in or attached to the seed. 

§51.3599 Damage. 

"Damage" means any specific defect mentioned in this section; or an equally objectionable

variation of any one of these defects, any other defect, or any combination of defects which

materially detracts from the processing quality of the individual seed or of the seeds in the lot as a

whole. The following specific defects shall be considered as damage: 

(a) Discoloration when the seed coat is so stained or discolored that it will be conspicuously

noticeable after blanching; 

(b) Splits when the two halves of the seed separate in the usual shelling operation; and, 
4

(c) Cracked skins when the seed coat is split open exposing the inner portion of the seed. 

§51.3600 Tinge of green. 

"Tinge of green" means that the seed of retains at least a faintly greenish cast over part or all the

surface. 

§51.3601 Serious defects. 

"Serious defects" means seeds affected by decay, insects, sting scars, insect eggs or dark brown or

black discoloration.